As mentioned in several places, the final exam is comprehensive and will be composed of 100 multiple choice questions. Lecture students must come to class with a scantron and a #2 pencil.
We will lecture in class over how these topics fit together, but focus your studying on the following:
the purposes of each of the three governing institutions
the basic design of each governing institution and the differences between the US and Texas versions
the security clause in the Magna Carta
the tension between the British Parliament and the British Crown
the grievances in the Declaration of Independence
the size of the legislature in the U.S. and Texas
the differences between the House and the Senate
elections to the House and Elections to the Senate, changes over time
be able to answer a question about each of the sections in article 1 of the U.S. Constitution
the Speaker: U.S> vs Texas
checks that each branch has on the other two
sessions and special sessions
committees in Congress, types – especially the standing committees
the powers of political parties in each chamber
goals of members of Congress
Floor Leaders, Whips, Majority / Minority Leaders
the party caucuses, caucuses in general
the chief executive officer vs. the bureaucracy
the singular executive vs. the plural executive
the powers of the president
conflict regarding commander in chief powers
executive privilege
the electoral college
the unitary executive
presidential judicial and legislative powers
executive orders
the growth of the US executive branch
agency capture
presidential advising: Cabinet, EOP, the White House Staff
the best and worst presidents – factors explaining the ratings
going public
presidential popularity
group think
the role of the courts
the growth and importance of an independent judiciary
trials and appeals
the design of the court system
the establishment of judicial review
Alexander Hamilton’s argument for judicial review
the design of the Supreme Court
common law, statutory law, constitutional law
the Star Chamber
precedence and stare decisis
the appointed judiciary
service during good behavior
the elected Texas judiciary
protections of the judiciary from the other two branches
As mentioned in several places, the final exam is comprehensive and will be composed of 100 multiple choice questions. Lecture students must come to class with a scantron and a #2 pencil.
We will lecture in class over how these topics fit together, but focus your studying on the following:
the purposes of each of the three governing institutions
the basic design of each governing institution and the differences between the US and Texas versions
the security clause in the Magna Carta
the tension between the British Parliament and the British Crown
the grievances in the Declaration of Independence
the size of the legislature in the U.S. and Texas
the differences between the House and the Senate
elections to the House and Elections to the Senate, changes over time
be able to answer a question about each of the sections in article 1 of the U.S. Constitution
the Speaker: U.S> vs Texas
checks that each branch has on the other two
sessions and special sessions
committees in Congress, types – especially the standing committees
the powers of political parties in each chamber
goals of members of Congress
Floor Leaders, Whips, Majority / Minority Leaders
the party caucuses, caucuses in general
the chief executive officer vs. the bureaucracy
the singular executive vs. the plural executive
the powers of the president
conflict regarding commander in chief powers
executive privilege
the electoral college
the unitary executive
presidential judicial and legislative powers
executive orders
the growth of the US executive branch
agency capture
presidential advising: Cabinet, EOP, the White House Staff
the best and worst presidents – factors explaining the ratings
going public
presidential popularity
group think
the role of the courts
the growth and importance of an independent judiciary
trials and appeals
the design of the court system
the establishment of judicial review
Alexander Hamilton’s argument for judicial review
the design of the Supreme Court
common law, statutory law, constitutional law
the Star Chamber
precedence and stare decisis
the appointed judiciary
service during good behavior
the elected Texas judiciary
protections of the judiciary from the other two branches
democracy and the court
the appointment and confirmation process
the court’s agenda
equity
the court of appeals
standing, jurisdiction
disputes over how to interpret the constitution
judicial restraint vs. activism
writs of mandamus
the current composition of the court